By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Fellow boxers, friends, family and supporters of three times World Champion Boxer Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela came out it their numbers to bid farewell.
Thobela’s funeral was held on Thursday at the Dlamini Multipurpose Centre in Soweto, south of Johannesburg.
The 57-year-old died on Monday, 29 April, at his flat in Joburg. He was laid to rest at the West Park Cemetery.
Thobela was honoured with a state funeral, leaving behind a legacy that includes his parents, nine siblings, 14 children, and nine grandchildren.
On Tuesday, 07 May, the boxer was celebrated by his boxing colleagues and family during his memorial service. The memorial service was held at Hill on Empire, Empire Road, in Park Town, Joburg.
It was attended by former boxing stars and other local celebrities who have worked with him closely in the past years.
Dingaan Thobela Junior, a professional soccer player, gave tribute to his father on behalf of his siblings. He vowed that as a collective they will keep his name alive.
“I pray that during this time, we find healing and strive to keep your name alive as the father that we all loved and looked up to. You were the Rose of Soweto but to us you were our father. We will always love and miss you,” he said.
A tribute letter from Thobela’s parents was read out by one of his nieces and described the pain of having to bury their child. “Your death is so sudden and pains us because we thought you would be the one to bury us.
Yes, we called you our child, but you were the child of the nation. You were the “Rose of Soweto” but to us you were our humble and ambitious boy.
When we noticed your talent and decided to send you to Norman Hlabane for boxing training, we didn’t think that you would become a world champion.
As young as you were, you taught us a lot. You are the one who introduced us to the undertaking business and had the honour of working with you, we will miss you. Rest in power Modjaji, Thobela.”
Bongane Thobela, his brother, reminisced about Dingaan’s kind-hearted nature.
“I’m grateful for the wonderful times we shared. He was a peaceful man, and today, we let him rest without any disputes,” he said.
Ntombi Thobela, his daughter praised her dad’s generosity and care.
“Rest in peace, dad. You were an incredible soul who always looked after us,” she said.
Norman Hlabane, Dingaan’s personal trainer shared his shock upon hearing the news of his passing.
“One of the people I work with called me. He asked me if I have heard news about Dingaan Thobela’s passing,” he said.
“I was devastated. I had looked forward to future collaborations. His death has deeply affected me.”
Thobela won the hearts of many between 1990 and 2006. He became a world champion in two weight classes, holding the WBO lightweight title from 1990 to 1992, the WBA lightweight title in 1993, and the WBC super-middleweight title in 2000.